Vehicular bag hoist

ABSTRACT

An elevatable vehicular hauling assembly employing expandable hoisting bellows, a pair of sliding parallelogram linkages, and vertical alignment retention and position control means interlinked therewith.

[ Feb. 20, 1973 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [54] VEHICULARBAG HOIST Howard P. Berends, Fruitport, Mich.

2,576,426 Thurzo............................254/10 R X 2,766,007 10/1956Krilanovich..........................254/l24 635,304 10/1899Culver.......,........................254/10 C [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Holland Hitch Company, Holland,

Mi h, Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Price, l-leneveld,l-luizenga & Cooper [22] Filed: Jan. 4, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 103689An elevatable vehicular hauling assembly employing expandable hoistingbellows, a pair of sliding parallelogram linkages, and verticalalignment retention m m d u m .m n F F. 8 m .m m m D e 6 m s m r m m m m4 n mu HU 4 W 2 0 1 oo 4 5 m 2" a 4 mm 1 m M2 w m "WI "8 8 S LL w d tdUhF 1]] 2. 00 555 [[l VEHICULAR BAG I-IOIST BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to vehicular hauling equipment, and moreparticularly to a hoistable vehicular load support assembly.

Versatility of function is becoming increasingly important for haulagevehicles. One feature considered particularly advantageous is capacityfor elevation of the load support structure of a hauling vehicle as aunit. For example a hoistable, load supporting fifth wheel on a trucktractor allows rapid yard work since the front end of a semi-trailer canreadily be lifted sufficiently to lift the landing gear off the ground.Consequently, various structures have been proposed, and some adopted,employing inflatable bellows units to hoist fifth wheel platforms.However, too frequently, there is a practical limit of elevation thatcan be achieved. This usually results from limited hoisting capacity,limited expansibility of the hoisting units, or more frequently,instability of the elevated structure under load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention employs a combination ofparallelogram linkages, position control means, and hoisting bellowsbetween the vehicular support frame and load engaging elevator platformto achieve a novel haulage vehicle assembly. Loads can be elevated tosubstantial heights, yet with stability, by the novel structure. Theelevator platform does not move significantly fore and aft with raisingand lowering of the load platform.

A specific object of this invention therefore is to provide a novelhoistable, haulage vehicle load platform having stability when elevatedsubstantial amounts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel hoistable fifthwheel platform assembly employing hoisting bellows, parallelogramlinkages, and stabilizer and position control means in combination.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent upon studyingthe following specification in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of atruck tractor vehicle having the novel apparatus mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 1, in the expandedhoist condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus in FIG. 2, viewed from theopposite direction;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the novel apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the novel apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically tothe drawings, the complete combination 10 includes a truck tractor 12having an engine, a cab, front wheel assembly, and rear drive wheelassembly in conventional fashion, as, well as a frame 14 which extendsrearwardly from beneath the cab to above the rear wheel suspensionmechanism. Mounted on frame 14 is the novel hoist assembly 16 for thefifth wheel apparatus 18.

front to rear extending, laterally spaced support beams 20 and 22,normally of I-beam construction. Secured on top of these beams is asupport structure or bed 24 which preferably comprises a generallyrectangular plate having its opposite side edges secured as by weldingto beams 20 and 22. Supported upon the generally central portion of thissupport platform 24 is a vertically expandable bellows hoist unit 26composed of a series of bellows units mounted atop each other in sealedfashion in conventional manner. Because of the unusual stability of theentire structure in elevated condition, a substantial number of thesebellows can be employed to hoist to a substantial height.

Mounted on top of this bellows unit 26 is a load sup port structureshown as platform 28. On top of platform 28 is a pair of laterallyspaced mounting brackets 30 and 32 which pivotally mount fifth wheel 18in conventional fashion using sockets 30' and 32'.

A pair of elongated plates 40 depending from the opposite sides ofplatform 28 form the upper horizontally extending legs of a pair of likebut mirror image parallelogram linkages 42. Each linkage includes upperlegs 40, front and rear shiftable legs 44 and 46, and lower horizontallyextending legs 48. The lower end of rear legs 46 are pivotally securedto the rear ends of lower legs 48. The lower ends of front legs 44 arepivotally secured adjacent the front ends of legs 48 by being attachedto a transversely extending pivot bar 50, which in turn is pivotallysecured to the forward ends of legs 48. The upper ends of forward legs44 are pivotally secured to the forward ends of legs 40 on the underside of platform 28. The upper ends of legs 46 are pivotally securedadjacent the rear ends of upper legs 40 by being pivotally secured to atransverse pivot rod 56 which in turn is attached to the rear ends ofupper legs 40. Also secured to the opposite ends of pivot rod 56 is apair of couplers 58, to which are pivotally attached the rear ends of apair of elongated stabilizer bars 60 of stabilizer and position controlmeans 59. Bars 60 extend from a position behind the fifth wheel supportplatform to a position in front of the fifth wheel and its platform 28.The front ends of bars 60 are pivotally attached to brackets 62 mountedon the forward ends of platform 24.

Lower legs 48 of the two pairs of parallelogram linkages are slidablefore and aft along support bed 24 by having a sliding interfittherewith. Specifically, the channel shaped structure of each leg 48 isconfigurated on the lower edge thereof to form a slide having a pair ofshoulders 64 (FIG. 4) that fit over a generally T- shaped slide track 66affixed to plate 24.

The forward legs 44 on the opposite sides of the structure arepreferably interconnected by a rigid support plate 44' which alsoextends between transverse pivot rod 50 and the transversely extendingpivot rod 51 secured to the forward end of platform 28.

Frame beams 20 and 22 preferably have a pair of forwardly upwardlyextending diagonal ramps and 82 leading up to the fifth wheel for easeof interconnection to a semi-trailer.

In operation, the fifth wheel load support platform 28 can be raised andlowered using a suitable compressed air source such as tank throughsuitable conduits 94 to the bellows unit. Elevation can be limited witha suitable control valve 96 (FIG. 3). During inflation of bellows unit26 to elevate load support platform 28 above the support bed structure,position control and stabilizer links 60 cause the platform to movebasically upwardly, without significant forward or rearward movement ofplatform 28. Hence, the bellows unit is basically undistorted in itsinflation. When platform 28 is being elevated, the forward and rearwardlegs 44 and 46 of each of the parallelogram linkages moves from agenerally horizontal condition to a generally vertical but slightlyinclined diagonal position as illustrated in FIG. 2. During thisparallelogram linkage shift, lower legs 48 of the parallelogram linkagesslide along the track structures explained relative to FIG. 4,rearwardly during hoisting of plate 28, and forwardly during lowering ofplate 28. As a consequence of this combination of features, it has beenfound that the fifth wheel and a semi-trailer hoisted thereon are verystable even at this substantial elevation. If a load is moved by thevehicle when the unit is elevated, linkages 42 prevent lateral shift andlateral bellows distortion. Of course they also prevent this when theunit is lowered. If a load is moved by the vehicle when the unit iselevated, stabilizer and position control means 59 prevents fore and aftshift and accompanying bellows distortion. It also does this when theunit is lowered.

Various additional advantages will undoubtedly occur to those in the artupon reviewing this disclosure. It is also conceivable that certainconstruction details e.g., the construction of the upper and lowerplatforms, and the like, could be modified to suit a particularsituation without departing from the concept presented herein. In thebroader aspects of the novel concept, the combination could be employedon other hauling vehicles besides a truck tractor. Further, thecombination could be employed with other load engaging means than afifth wheel. Hence, it is intended that the invention is to be limitedonly by the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures tothose defined therein, rather than to the specific form of the inventionset forth herein as illustrative and preferred.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hoistable vehicular load support assembly, comprising: supportstructure affixable to a hauling vehicle; a load support structure abovesaid affixable support structure; hoist means between said afiixablesupport structure and said load support structure; parallelogram linkagemeans between said affixable support structure and said load supportstructure, movable vertically angularly with raising and lowering ofsaid load support structure and for limited fore and aft movement onsaid support structure; and position control means to control said loadsupport structure relative to fore and aft movement with raising andlowering thereof, said position control means extending from portions ofsaid affixable supportstructure to portions of said load supportstructure and being movable vertically angularly with raising andlowering of said load support structure in a like direction with thevertical angular movement of said linkage means.

2. The vehicular assembly in claim 1 including foreto-aft slide meansbetween said parallelogram linkage means and said affixable supportstructure.

3. The vehicular assembly in claim 2 wherein said position control meansincludes vertical alignment retention means between said load supportstructure and said affixable support structure to prevent significantfore and aft movement of said affixable support structure with raisingand lowering thereof.

4. A hoistable vehicular load support assembly, comprising: supportstructure affixable to a hauling vehicle; a load support structure aboveaffixable support structure; parallelogram linkage means attached tosaid load support structure and slidably mounted on said affixablesupport structure for limited fore and aft movement thereon; andvertical alignment retention and position control means extending fromthe fore portions of said affixable support structure to the rearportions of said load support structure, said linkage means and saidposition control means each being vertically angularly movable in a likedirection with raising and lowering of said load support.

* IF I

1. A hoistable vehicular load support assembly, comprising: supportstructure affixable to a hauling vehicle; a load support structure abovesaid affixable support structure; hoist means between said affixablesupport structure and said load support structure; parallelogram linkagemeans between said affixable support structure and said load supportstructure, movable vertically angularly with raising and lowering ofsaid load support structure and for limited fore and aft movement onsaid support structure; and position control means to control said loadsupport structure relative to fore and aft movement with raising andlowering thereof, said position control means extending from portions ofsaid affixable support structure to portions of said load supportstructure and being movable vertically angularly with raising andlowering of said load support structure in a like direction with thevertical angular movement of said linkage means.
 1. A hoistablevehicular load support assembly, comprising: support structure affixableto a hauling vehicle; a load support structure above said affixablesupport structure; hoist means between said affixable support structureand said load support structure; parallelogram linkage means betweensaid affixable support structure and said load support structure,movable vertically angularly with raising and lowering of said loadsupport structure and for limited fore and aft movement on said supportstructure; and position control means to control said load supportstructure relative to fore and aft movement with raising and loweringthereof, said position control means extending from portions of saidaffixable support structure to portions of said load support structureand being movable vertically angularly with raising and lowering of saidload support structure in a like direction with the vertical angularmovement of said linkage means.
 2. The vehicular assembly in claim 1including fore-to-aft slide means between said parallelogram linkagemeans and said affixable support structure.
 3. The vehicular assembly inclaim 2 wherein said position control means includes vertical alignmentretention means between said load support structure and said affixablesupport structure to prevent significant fore and aft movement of saidaffixable support structure with raising and lowering thereof.